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Starting Five: The top impact transfers in 2013-14

Is it March yet? Hardly. With the NCAA tournament in the rear-view mirror and Midnight Madness several months away, USA TODAY Sports examines several lookahead story lines for the 2013-14 college basketball

Is it March yet? Hardly. With the NCAA tournament in the rear-view mirror and Midnight Madness several months away, USA TODAY Sports examines several story lines for the 2013-14 college basketball season.

We see it every season: Key players transferring to big time programs — sometimes for personal reasons and often to better their chances entering the spotlight and, ultimately, winning.

Players who transfer between Division I schools are required to sit out a season per NCAA rules, unless they receive an NCAA hardship waiver.

This week, we discuss the list of transfers available to make an immediate impact on their respective teams and a splash on the college hoops scene.

1. Rodney Hood (Mississippi State to Duke): Although much of the buzz around Duke's renovated roster focuses on star freshman Jabari Parker, Hood's eligibility after sitting out last season in Durham helps make the Blue Devils a top 10 team at the start of 2013-14. Hood is only the fourth Division I transfer taken by coach Mike Krzyzewski (the latest being Seth Curry). At Mississippi State in 2011-12, Hood averaged 10.3 points and 4.8 rebounds. If his stats don't jump off the page, consider the fact he's a 6-8 guard — making him a possible matchup nightmare in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

2. Angel Rodriguez (Kansas State to Miami, Fla.): The stars seemed to align for Rodriguez with Miami point guard Shane Larkin declaring for the NBA draft — paving the way for Rodriguez to return closer to home (Puerto Rico). However, Rodriguez's eligibility still remains in question. He's requesting a hardship waiver that's pending. Plus, Jim Larranaga might need Rodriguez (11.4 points, 5.2 assists a game for K-State last season) more in 2014-15 after a one-season rebuilding project. Kansas State will try to fill the void left by Rodriguez with Maine transfer Justin Edwards, who led the America East Conference in scoring with 16.7 points a game.

3. Mike Moser (UNLV to Oregon): Lucky for Ducks coach Dana Altman, Moser will be eligible right away as a graduate student. The only lingering question is whether Altman's system will help bring out the NBA prospect Moser was as a sophomore for UNLV, with averages of 14.0 points and 10.5 rebounds, or a version of last season when Moser's numbers dipped substantially — 7.1 points, 6.1 rebounds a game — after his transition to a perimeter-oriented role.

4. Tarik Black (Memphis to Kansas): Black graduated from Memphis, which means Bill Self will have an eligible 6-9 big man to help add size to a roster that now features top recruit Andrew Wiggins. Black averaged 8.1 points and 4.8 rebounds for the Tigers last season, and Self will have the challenge of bringing out some untapped talent in a once highly heralded prospect. Duke and Oregon also were courting Black. Meanwhile, the transfer of David Pellom from George Washington to Memphis helps fill the void for Josh Pastner.

5. Josh Davis (Tulane to San Diego State): Never heard the name? That should change in 2013-14. After averaging 17.6 points and 10.7 rebounds for Tulane last season, Davis also took advantage of the graduate transfer rule and will be one of the Aztecs' catalysts right away. The 6-8 forward chose San Diego State over Gonzaga. Additionally, Steve Fisher landed Arizona transfer Angelo Chol to supplement a roster that's losing top scorer Jamaal Franklin.